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<div class="ExternalClass961FE83288DE4533B65DCFFA827734B3"><p>​Trans Specialty Care offers knowledgeable and specialized care to transgender and gender diverse persons living in the Vancouver Coastal Health region. We work in teams including nurses, counsellors, physicians, nurse practitioners, and social workers. We are a consultation service and work in collaboration with your family doctor. If you do not have a family doctor (GP) or nurse practitioner (NP) we can help you find options for primary care.</p><h2>What services are provided?<br></h2><div><p></p><ul><li>Hormone initiation and stabilization<br></li><li>Surgical care planning and referrals<br></li><li>Pre-operative information and education<br></li><li>Post-operative nursing care<br></li><li>Limited counselling <br></li><li>Hormone injection supplies<br></li><li>Assistance with identity document changes<br></li></ul><p></p></div><p>There are no costs for the services we provide. <br></p><p>Further information regarding the above services and therapies including a comprehensive list of support groups can also be found through the <a href="http://transhealth.phsa.ca/" target="_blank">Transgender Health Information Program (THIP)</a> at Trans Care BC or visit our <a href="http://www.vch.ca/public-health/health-topics-a-z/topics/lgbt2q+">LGBT2Q+ webpage</a>. <br></p><h2>Where is this service offered?</h2><ul><li><a href="http://www.vch.ca/Locations-Services/result?res_id=1373">Three Bridges Community Health Centre</a><br></li><li><a href="http://www.vch.ca/Locations-Services/result?res_id=1365">Raven Song Community Health Centre</a><br></li></ul></div>

(604) 844-2223

(604) 633-4248 - Self-referral intake line

<div class="ExternalClass25E0E1C3F5E74C058646F8ACAC350913"><p>You can self-refer by leaving a message on our intake line at (604) 633-4248 or through the online contact form. </p><p>Your primary care clinician can also fax a referral to (604) 844-2223. The intake clerk will call you with an appointment with a nurse within 1-2 weeks. </p></div>

<div class="ExternalClassCB260384651544D4AE652A4D335792FF"><p>Services are provided to people 15 and older living in the <a href="/about-us/who-we-serve">Vancouver Coastal Health region</a>. Youth (15-24 years), refugee claimants, and individuals with post-operative complications who live outside the VCH Region will be given special consideration on a case-by-case basis. </p><p>If you live outside of the VCH region, please contact <a href="http://www.phsa.ca/our-services/programs-services/trans-care-bc" target="_blank">Transcare BC’s Care Coordination team</a> for help with finding care in your area.</p></div>

<div class="ExternalClass5EAF2954EB714559B01E16F45E3F85B6"><h2>How does the intake process work?</h2><p>Your first appointment will be with an intake nurse who will discuss your goals and needs with you and who can refer you to some services right away if necessary. The nurse will then add you to our waitlist to see a doctor. You will then be given three ½ hour appointments each 2 weeks apart with a doctor. We use an informed consent model to provide gender affirming care and use these appointments to document your gender experience, your mental and physical health status, and have a complete discussion with you regarding the risks and benefits of the care you are seeking. The doctor may need to add or reduce the number of intake appointments necessary or may recommend that certain health issues get stabilized prior to starting any therapy. </p><h2>What happens next? </h2><p>At some point (usually around 1 year later) we will work toward transitioning your hormone therapy to your family doctor or another primary care provider in the community. We will also help you access surgery and will support you for 6 months post-op while you recover. We recognize that many primary care providers have limited knowledge in this area and are happy to support them in providing your ongoing care.</p><h2>Can I get on hormones faster if I have seen a mental health professional for a hormone readiness assessment? </h2><p>Unfortunately, not through our service. A hormone readiness assessment may shorten the number of appointments needed with the doctor, but our doctors still want some time to get to know you prior to initiating any therapy. To be fair to everyone, we ask everyone to wait on the same list. However, your hormone readiness recommendation letter now allows you to access an endocrinologist who may have shorter wait times. Our intake nurse can provide you with names of endocrinologists in Vancouver that you can take to your family doctor or a walk-in clinic to obtain a referral. </p><h2>What if all I need is a surgery recommendation and do not want hormones?</h2><p>We can definitely help you with surgery care planning and system navigation. You may also want to contact the care coordination team at Transcare BC. They may have a shorter wait time for this service than we do. </p><h2>I am going out-of-province for my surgery. Can I get post-op help when I get back? </h2><p>Yes! Please contact us as soon as you have your surgery date. Our nursing team will connect with you before you go for surgery and help you prepare. They will also set up care for you once you return to BC.</p></div>